Telangana Police have booked nine people, including two village sarpanches, for allegedly killing 300 stray dogs in Shayampet and Arepally villages. The Sarpanch staff allegedly hired two people to kill the
dogs by using a poisonous injection.
The incident came to light after animal welfare activists Adulapuram Goutham and Farzana Begum filed a complaint on January 9, alleging that 300 stray dogs were killed in Shayampet and Arepally villages over three days from January 6.
Following the complaint, a post-mortem was conducted on exhumed carcasses, and it was found that the stray dogs were killed using lethal injections.
According to sources from the villages, cited by TOI, community elders justified the move, saying it was taken in response to the repeated ‘public demand.’
They said the stray dog population had grown into a major problem and noted that the issue was even discussed during the recent sarpanch elections.
The complainant also urged the authorities to take strict action against those involved in the killing of the dogs, calling on the government to enforce measures such as animal birth control, sterilisation and vaccination to regulate the stray dog population.
All nine individuals have been booked under Section 11(1)(a)(l) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, and a further investigation into the matter is underway.
